Nuts and Volts - April 2014

door is a simple curtain that was left off for the photograph to give a sense of size and rider position.

Figure 4 shows the inside layout with video screen, joystick, seat, and rudder pedals.

When I built this version, a 15” flat screen LCD was still expensive, but these days a much larger video screen and even multiple monitors for side views is possible. Cabin construction is incredibly light weight, inexpensive, and simple. The floor is made from 1/2” plywood, and the walls and ceiling are made from 1/8” 4’ x 8’ tempered hardboard.

Hardboard is available from all major lumber stores for about $9 a sheet, and bends easily into many shapes. By gluing small wood blocks at all corners and along seams as needed, the your cabin’s hardboard panels can literally screw together. All seams are then reinforced, and gaps are filled using a simple construction adhesive such as Liquid Nails™. This design withstood many years on the road, and worked perfectly for riders up to 220 pounds.

If you’re not into carpentry, no problem! Figure 5 shows an even simpler cabin made using standard PVC pipe and fittings. By simply covering such a PVC frame with fabric or any other thin material, a very simple “hood” can be made for quick experimenting. Ultimately,

42 April 2014

; FIGURE 5.

Parts List (of sorts)

( 4) 1K 1/2 watt resistor ( 4) 10K 1/2 watt resistor ( 2) 2.5K potentiometers (highest quality possible)

( 4) IRF540 MOSFETs

7805 voltage regulator (to provide 5V current to feedback potentiometers)

24V DC power supply (select amp rating to suit your chosen solenoid valves)

Weeder Technologies digital I/O module WTDIO-M Weeder Technologies analog input module WTADC-M Note: My Virtual Flyer's Weeder boards connected to the computer's serial port.

If your computer lacks a serial port, a USB to serial adapter cable has been tested with the Virtual Flyer and will work.

I do not have experience with newer USB based boards or if they can be accessed from Quick Basic.

( 4) 24V solenoid valves (ideally 1/4" 150 PSI or higher) Note: Larger air cylinders can run at lower pressures, so lower PSI air valves than previously mentioned can also work in that instance.